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Parks and open spaces

Belfast Open Spaces Strategy (BOSS)

Belfast benefits from having various open spaces. From the beautiful Victorian setting of the Botanic Gardens, to the natural grandeur of Cave Hill Country Park, from the lawns of the City Hall Gardens, to the small local play areas. These add to the overall quality of our environment and contribute to our city’s own unique identity.

Belfast open spaces

Covering about a quarter of the city’s total area around 2,390 hectares, our open spaces are a significant resource. Belfast’s residents have told us they are proud of the city’s natural and built environment and that we need to take care of these natural assets. Belfast Open Spaces Strategy (BOSS) strategy sets out an ambitious vision that by 2035 ‘Belfast will have a well-connected, accessible network of high quality, sustainable open spaces recognised for the value and benefits they provide to everyone who live in, work in and visits our city’.

Seven strategic principles

This vision is supported by seven guiding strategic principles (SP). Belfast’s open spaces will:

  • SP1: Provide welcoming shared spaces
  • SP2: Improve connectivity
  • SP3: Improve health and well-being
  • SP4: Support place-making and enhance the built environment
  • SP5: Increase resilience to climate change
  • SP6: Protect and enhance the natural environment
  • SP7: Be celebrated and support learning

Getting a copy of the strategy

You can email parksandleisure@belfastcity.gov.uk for a copy of the Belfast Open Spaces Strategy.

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